To the editor:
Your May 6 article ("Campus club rejected") contained several misrepresentations about a Gordon College Student Association meeting that we would like to address.
The article stated of student Tania Green's proposal for a support group for LGBTQ students, that Ms. Green had been "stymied" and that "if she's denied, there won't be a club next year." These statements imply ill will on the part of GCSA, and also imply that once a proposal for a student organization is denied, the rejection is permanent and will not be reconsidered. This is not the case.
All student groups or clubs at Gordon must have faculty/staff advisers and exist under a sponsoring governing body — GCSA, Dean of Student's office, or Chapel. The GCSA often votes down proposals on the first application with the full expectation of hearing a more robust proposal in the future. GCSA may also refer a group to one of the other sponsoring bodies on campus if it does not feel it is equipped to oversee the club.
As elected officials from the student body and a deliberative committee, it is GCSA's duty to encourage and approve all campus proposals in their best possible form. Following the final vote, I formed a nine-person committee to investigate the best possible means by which Miss Green's intent of support, within our evangelical context, could be realized. GCSA is deeply saddened that these actions were not represented in the article and hopes this brings some clarification and understanding.
PRASHAN DE VISSER, President
Gordon College Student Association
Wenham
